Chronicles of Avonlea (Chronicles of Avonlea #1)

Synopsis

On Prince Edward Island, where Anne Shirley grew up in the sea-sprayed town of Avonlea, there was no shortage of wonderful stories. There was the case of Ludovic Speed, who wouldn't propose to the woman he had courted for fifteen years until Anne devised a plan to "speed" him up . . . if it didn't backfire and break his heart. But no one could blame mischievous Anne for the hilarious battle of the sexes that erupted when a man-hating woman and her cat got quarantined in the same house with a woman-hating bachelor and his dog. From sprawling Penhallow Grange, where a family waits nearly forever for two quarreling lovers to break their stubborn silence, to the tumbledown farm of Old Man Shaw, who awaits the return of his beloved daughter, L.M. Montgomery has written twelve tales of secret hopes and hidden dreams, filled with enchantment and humor.

Loved

• Just as a disclaimer, I don't usually read short stories just because you don't get much character/plot development, but I had a blast listening to these short stories- I laughed out loud many times and even shed a few tears.

• The middle-aged romances. Now when we say "middle-aged" in this time period, we're talking late twenties, early thirties much of the time. Almost all of these love stories are between lovers who aren't in the bloom of youth, and I found that refreshing and a little humorous. Because these happen to "older" people, the love stories are more colorful and vibrant because each character has become a little more quirky and stubborn as they've aged. Even though these love stories are somewhat predictable and a little similar, I absolutely ate them up and each one was enchanting and vastly entertaining in its own way.

• The humor. L.M. Montgomery is my favorite author for a few reasons, one of the foremost being that she has such a classic and fresh sense of humor. I laughed out loud at so many of these characters and situations, especially in the story containing a man-hating woman having to quaratine with a woman-hating man. Their banter and contrasting personalities- hers being extremely prim and pragmatic, and his being brash and sarcastic- was a hilarious combination that had me laughing outloud throughout the whole story. Most of these stories found characters in outrageous situations that brought out the pluck and spunk of these already quirky people.

• The emotion. Another reason I adore L.M. Montgomery is that she can make you laugh and cry within the same page, and the emotion is so real and vivid that it makes you experience your own life more fully. These stories are very short- only half an hour each to listen to- but they do contain excellent character development and moving revelations. I especially loved the story of old Miss Lloyd, who comes out of her shell of pride by learning to love a young girl in her neighborhood, and through mysteriously serving this girl, she is taught how love enriches and beautifies every aspect of our lives.

• The relatability. Yet another reason why I can't get enough of L.M. Montgomery is her astute observation and understanding of human nature. In every single one of her characters, there are traits and actions to which we can relate and understand. Every character is reminiscent of someone we have known- the town gossip, the person who has premonitions of events after they happen, the bossy neighbor with a big heart, the doormat husband, etc. We have all known those people and been them ourselves, which makes each situation and story so believable and so real. L.M. Montgomery really does understand human personality, desire, and character so profoundly that we can't help but identify with her characters, even in the most bizarre and wild of situations.

Didn't Love

• My only complaint is that we don't get more of these characters. As soon as we get to know them and fall in love with them, the story is over.

Content

• Language: 
• No language.

• Sexual content: 
• A few sweet kisses.

• Violence:
• No violence.

Overall Thoughts

As I said above, I don't normally like short stories, and I was a little hesitant about listening to these. However, they were already part of the Anne of Green Gables audiobook set I had bought, so I decided to give them a try since I was thirsty for more L.M. Montgomery and Avonlea. I'm so glad I gave them a try! I have absolutely loved each story, and each one has affected me by making me either laugh, cry, or sigh with dreamy satisfaction at a resolved love story. Although the stories are short, we quickly identify with and learn to love these odd and relatable characters and appreciate their stories. If you enjoy Anne of Green Gables, I highly recommend these stories- I promise you will laugh out loud a few times, and maybe even find yourself moved by some of the sweet life lessons and long-lost love found in these characters.